THE  BALLOT 


DANGERS  FROM  ITS  PERVERSION. 


AN  APPEAL  AND  METHOD  FOR  MAINTAINING 
ITS  PURITY. 


BY 

STEUBEN  T.  BACON. 


“ Stuff  the  ballot-box  much  more,  will  it  not  burst?  ” — Rev.  Dr.  Bartol. 


rA 


CAMBRIDGE: 

3^ciiiteti  at  t|)c  0ibcriSiJJc 

1881. 


Copyright,  1881, 

By  STEUBEN  T.  BACON. 


The  Riverside  Press,  Ca77ibridge  : 

Stereotyped  and  Printed  by  II.  0.  Houghton  and  Company. 


To 

THE  VOTERS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

OF  ALL  PARTIES, 

IS  RESPECTFULLY  INSCRIBED 

BY 

THE  AUTHOR. 


• V 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

APPEAL 5 

DANGERS 12 

OPINIONS  OF  EXPERTS  25 


COMMENDATIONS 


28 


AN  APPEAL  AND  METHOD 


FOR 

MAINTAINING  THE  INTEGRITY  OF  THE  BALLOT. 


“If  the  worst  things  prevail,  the  best  are  excluded,  and  a nation 
ceases.” — Nahum  Capen’s  History  of  Democracy. 

It  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  greatest  evils  that 
now  menace  the  Republic  are  frauds  upon  the  suf- 
frage ; and  whatever  will  prevent  them  and  secure  the 
stability  and  practicable  economy  of  government,  and 
the  union  and  fraternity  of  its  citizens,  is  worthy  the 
careful  attention  and  best  efforts  of  men  of  influence 
in  every  department  of  life. 

Frauds  in  voting,  counting,  and  tabulating  the  re- 
turns of  ballots  at  elections  are  crimes  fatal  to  the 
cause  of  freedom  and  to  republican  government.  That 
such  crimes  have  become  alarmingly  prevalent,  in- 
creasing at  every  succeeding  election  and  deliberately 
committed  on  a gigantic  scale,  even  in  unsuspected 
localities,  by  the  preconcerted  plans  of  professional 
men,  with  favor  and  approval,  is  a lamentable  fact, 
that  demands  and  should  receive  instant  and  univer- 
sal attention  and  legislative  remedies  ; the  perpetra- 
tors marked  by  the  indelible  stamp  of  public  infamy, 
and  punished  as  promptly  and  surely  as  though  they 
had  committed  an  offense  against  property. 


6 


AN  APPEAL  AND  METHOD 


• The  honest,  wise,  and  good,  and  most  of  the  party 
platforms,  demand  that  an  honest  ballot,  count,  re- 
turn, and  tabulation  shall  be  assured.  How  to  ac- 
complish this  is  a problem  that  has  hitherto  baffled 
the  ingenuity  of  inventors  and  law-makers. 

In  addition  to  the  flagrant  crimes  that  are  com- 
mitted under  the  name  of  ‘‘  mistakes  in  the  count 
there  are  three  frauds  by  voters,  and  twenty-two  by 
offlcials  who  are  charged  with  the  simple  duty-of  con- 
ducting elections,  and  faithfully,  honestly,  and  impar- 
tially ascertaining  and  returning  the  exact  results  of 
all  the  ballots  lawfully  cast.  But  to  attain  these  re- 
sults has  appeared  to  be  a difficult  arithmetical  prob- 
lem ; for  the  astute  guardians  of  the  laws  fail,  almost 
ignominiously,  either  to  correct  the  mistakes,  prevent 
the  frauds,  or  annul  them  after  their  committal ; while 
their  efforts  to  seek  and  punish  the  criminals  are  often 
a mere  travesty  of  justice. 

For  the  lawful  ballot  to  prevail,  it  must  overtop  all 
frauds  and  mistakes.  When  we  consider  personal, 
local,  corporate,  clique,  and  party  interests,  and  the 
vast  sums  of  money  annually  expended  in  elections, 
who  but  the  inimical  knows  when^  ivhere^  or  hoiv 
these  varied  interests  and  moneys  will  act^  — whether 
through  the  voter,  repeater,  personator,  stuffer,  elec- 
tion offlcer,  or  tabulator,  either  or  all  of  them  ? 

I dare  aver  that  fully  flfteen  per  cent,  of  the  ballots 
voted  at  the  last  two  national  elections  failed  to  be 
tabulated  to  the  credit  of  the  candidates  voted  for. 
Herein  lies  our  alarming  weakness.  This  is  the  dry 
rot  that  is  rapidly  consuming,  not  the  pillars  of  state 
only,  but  the  State  itself.  How  long  it  can  survive 
this  unnatural  strain  the  oracles  have  not  revealed ; 


FOR  xAIAINTAINING  THE  INTEGRITY  OF  THE  BALLOT.  7 


but  history,  the  pulpit,  press,  and  platform,  with  no 
uncertain  voice,  warn  us  that  continuance  in  such 
parricidal  practices  will  erelong  bring  our  proud  Re- 
public to  an  end. 

The  legal  maxim,  that  ‘‘  every  wrong  has  its  rem- 
edy^'' obtains  here;  for  there  is  now  attainable  a sure 
method  to  frustrate  these  destroying  cabals,  and  in- 
sure the  complete  integrity  of  the  ballot.  Every 
known . election  fraud  can  be  surely  detected  and  an- 
nulled, and  the  perpetrator  apprehended  for  punish- 
ment. Contested  elections  — costing  vast  sums  of 
money,  and  seldom  decided  on  their  merits  — need 
no  longer  be  necessary. 

There  is  no  more  sense  nor  reason  why  every  one 
of  the  nearly  ten  million  ballots  voted  at  the  late 
election  should  not  be  expeditiously  tabulated  as 
voted  than  that  a book  account  representing  transac- 
tions of  ten  million  dollars  should  not  be  balanced 
correctly. 

Hitherto,  in  the  construction  of  ballot-boxes,  no 
attention  appears  to  have  been  given  to  the  impera- 
tive need  of  such  a method  as  will  prevent  or  de- 
tect mistakes,  frauds,  and  ballots  fraudulently  voted, 
and  to  enable  the  officials  to  determine  each  and  every 
ballot  lawfully^  in  contradistinction  from  those  ralaw- 
fully,  voted. 

I have  made  a close  study  of  election  frauds  and 
means  for  their  repression,  incited  by  the  masterlj^ 
oration  of  Col.  R.  G.  Ingersoll  on  “ Eight  to  Seven,” 
four  years  ago,  and,  at  great  expense,  devised  several 
ballot-boxes  that  effectually  compass  them ; but  the 
cost,  fifty  dollars,  has  retarded  introduction.  I was 
not  aware  that  republican  government  was  instituted 


8 


AN  APPEAL  AND  METHOD 


to  save  expense ; but  if  it  was,  then  even  the  fifty- 
dollar  box  should  have  been  adopted,  for  it  would 
have  saved  more  than  its  cost,  while,  by  assuring  the 
election  of  the  candidates  having  the  most  legal  votes, 
the  natural  result  would  have  been  to  allay  local  and 
national  animosities,  and  attain  the  essential  elements 
of  fraternal  unity. 

If  a ballot-box  is  attainable  that  will  defeat  any 
one  fraud,  should  it  not  find  favor?  But  let  it  be 
known  that  none  of  the  frauds  now  practiced  can 
harm  the  State,  nor  help  the  political  parties  who 
perpetrate  them,  and  that  certain  detection  will  fol- 
low even  the  attempt^  then  see  how  quickly  these 
offenses  will  cease. 

If  the  general  introduction  of  the  box  as  now  made 
can  be  assured,  it  can  be  furnished  for  fifteen  dollars  ; 
hence,  no  one  can  see  a job”  in  legislation  in  its 
behalf;  for  if  for  that  small  sum  the  minions  of  injus- 
tice and  fraud  can  be  defeated  in  their  conflict  with 
justice  and  truth,  the  people  will  hail  it  as  a national 
boon.  I know  very  well  that  it  cannot  transform  a 
knave  into  an  honest  man,  but,  happily,  it  can  cir- 
cumscribe his  operations,  and  give  law-abiding  citi- 
zens and  the  State  a protection  which  it  is  idle  to 
look  for  in  conflicting  and  loosely  draWn  statutes. 

The  banking  and  business  community  resort; to  in- 
tricate and  expensive  expedients  to  retain  their  prop- 
erty and  circumvent  the  operations  of  the  criminal 
class,  who,  by  constant  study,  acquire  wonderful  adapt- 
ability of  means  to  ends.  Why  should  not  Congress 
and  state  legislatures  exhibit  equal  sagacity  and  so- 
licitude to  retain  the  Republic,  and  regain  its  once 
honored  but  now  tarnished  name  ? Abolish  the  hat, 


FOR  MAINTAINING  THE  INTEGRITY  OF  THE  BALLOT.  9 


the  candle  and  soap  boxes,  as  voting  urns,  and  en- 
throne an  IDEAL  BALLOT-BOX  as  the  ark  of  our  Re- 
public. Legalize  it  as  the  crucial  test  to  which  the 
ballot  of  every  voter  in  the  land  shall  be  subjected. 

The  question  is  sometimes  asked  if  an  ordinary 
election  officer  can  work  this  box.  I answer  Yes, 

— and  am  confirmed  by  practical  scientists  who,  on 
page  25,  have  asserted  its  completeness  in  this  regard. 
The  people  are  intelligent.  Even  the  election  officer 
of  to-day  is  keen  enough  to  commit  twenty-two  spe- 
cies of  fraud,  and  also  to  elude  detection.  But  if  nec- 
essary^ raise  voting,  counting,  and  tabulating  to  a 
science,  and  relegate  the  conducting  of  elections  to  a 
higher  order  of  men,  — so  that  that  duty  will  be  per- 
formed as  faithfully  as  are  other  and  less  vital  affairs, 

— rather  than  leave  it  to  chance  frauds  by  unprin- 
cipled men. 

Those  who  profit  by  a fraudulent  suffrage  would 
have  the  present  status  remain,  — and  it  ivill  remain, 
unless  those  who  would  have  righteousness  and  truth 
prevail  over  the  powers  of  darkness  bestir  them- 
selves. 

It  will  be  seen  further  on  that  the  Bacox  Axti- 
Fbaud  Ballot-Box  has  been  critically  examined 
and  cordially  approved  by  many  competent  experts, 
business  men  and  statesmen  of  all  political  predilec- 
tions. ‘‘  Mere  party  men  oppose  it,  although  they 
admit  its  efficacy,  and  on  that  very  ground  are  shy 
of  it.” 

Three  prolonged  exhibitions  of  the  box  have  been 
made  at  Fairs,  and  thousands  have  said  as  with  one 
voice.  Let  this  system  go  into  use  and  the  cry  of  fraud 
at  elections  will  be  heard  no  more. 


10 


AN  APPEAL  AND  METHOD 


There  should  be  no  objection  raised  to  the  very 
small  expense  its  primary  introduction  would  cause, 
for  it  will  be  found  that  its  entire  cost  to  a State  can 
be  more  than  reimbursed  in  one  year,  by  saving  the 
expenses  attending  contested  elections  alone  ; hence, 
it  would  be  economy  in  the  highest  sense.  It  will 
simplify  the  labors  of  officials,  help  the  ignorant  and 
careless  in  reaching  an  accurate  result  expeditiously, 
and  save  the  need,  time,  and  vexation  of  a recount  — 
so  that  the  count  at  the  polls  could  be  accepted  as 
final.  The  assurance  to  the  citizens  that  the  results 
reached  are  correct  is  so  valuable  and  important, 
that,  in  comparison,  the  expense  required  to  secure  it 
is  not  worthy  of  consideration. 

I am  told  That  its  enforced  use  in  towns  is  ob- 
jected to  by  some  — that  their  inhabitants,  being 

plain,  honest  people,”  do  not  need  it.  Granted  the 
honesty  of  the  masses  everywhere  ; but  in  their  un- 
sophisticated reliance,  thinking  others  honest,  dema- 
gogues use  them,  — abusing  their  confidence  with  im- 
punity and  often  without  detection.  And  yet,  is  it 
not  true  that  no  general  election  occurs  without  the 
lightning  of  fraud  striking  one  or  more  unsuspected 
towns,  and  that  crime  of  all  kinds  is  nearly  as  gen- 
eral on  an  average  in  towns  as  in  cities  ? Living  as 
we  do  under  laws,  the  good  citizen  sees  the  necessity 
of  ordinances  to  protect  him  and  overawe  those  who 
would  commit  a wrong  act.  The  presumably  honest 
can  afford  to  be  watched,  and  it  is  they  who  should 
be. 

Fully  convinced  that  a new  departure  is  impera- 
tive, I submit  the  matter  to  the  serious  consideration 
of  Congress  and  state  legislatures  ; urging  the  vast 


FOR  MAINTAINING  THE  INTEGRITY  OF  THE  BALLOT.  11 


importance  of  taking  such  action,  not  only  by  strin- 
gent and  penal  laws,  but  by  the  adoption  of  a uni- 
form ballot-box  that  will  render  the  mistakes  and 
crimes  practically  impossible.  And  I earnestly  and 
confidently  appeal  to  that  mighty  power  the  Press, 
patriotic  representative  statesmen,  philanthropists, 
and  business  men,  whose  interests  are  in  jeopardy, 
to  examine  my  device ; and,  finding  it  efficacious,  to 
share  with  me  in  all  the  results  to  be  attained,  and 
aid  me  with  their  earnest,  persistent  efforts,  in  plac- 
ing it  in  every  voting  precinct  in  our  land,  assured 
that  all  will  accept  it  as  a safe  escape  from  the  dark 
forebodings  of  the  near  future. 

What  more  enduring  title  to  real  statesmanship 
than  to  accomplish  what  is  herein  outlined  ? 

The  potency  of  the  ballot  has  been  truthfully  de- 
scribed as 

“ A weapon  that  comes  down  as  still 
As  snow-flakes  fall  upon  the  sod ; 

But  executes  a freeman’s  will 
As  lightning  does  the  will  of  God.” 


THE  AUTHOR. 


DANGERS 

FROM  THE  PERVERSION  OF  THE  BALLOT. 


On  tlie  integrity  of  the  ballot  depends  the  safety  of  our 
republican  institutions.”  — Judge  Brady, 

We  want  a ballot-box  which  even  dishonest  inspectors 
can’t  compel  to  lie.”  — Herald,,  Boston, 

The  ballot-box  must  speak  the  combined  verdict  of  all 
lawful  electors.”  — Chief  Justice  Chambers, 

“ The  culmination  and  the  safety  of  the  arch  we  have 
reared  are  still  in  danger.”  — Secretary  Evarts, 

It  must  be  maintained  until  the  ballot-box  everywhere 
is  safe  from  violence  or  intimidation.”  — John  G,  Whittier, 
“ The  next  duty  is  to  give  free  elections  and  an  honest 
count  to  the  people  of  all  the  States  alike.”  — The  Tribune 
New  YorJc, 

To  secure  honesty  and  order  in  popular  elections  is  a 
matter  so  vital  that  it  must  stand  in  front.”  — General  Ar- 
thurs Letter  of  Acceptance, 

A ballot-box  that  will  render  fraud  impossible  is  some- 
thing which  it  is  every  citizen’s  interest  that  we  should 
have.”  — Herald,,  Boston, 

“It  has  aroused  public  attention,  as  nothing  else  could 
have  aroused  it,  to  one  of  the  worst  dangers  that  threatens 
our  governmental  system.”  — Free  Press,  Detroit, 

“ But  something  ought  to  be  done  to  prevent  the  ^ count- 
ing out  ’ of  electors  honestly  chosen,  and  the  ‘ counting  in  ’ 
of  others  who  are  not  chosen.”  — Traveller,  Boston, 


DANGEKS  FKOM  THE  PERVERSION  OF  THE  BALLOT.  13 


Give  us  only  this  : A free  vote  and  an  honest  count, 
and  the  cry  of  sectionalism  will  forever  cease  in  our  North- 
ern politics.”  — General  Woodford, 

I have  no  doubt  that  a greater  amount  of  fraudulent 
counting  was  done  on  Tuesday  night  than  at  any  time  since 
the  days  of  Tweed.”  — Evening  Post,  New  York, 

“ It  is  only  by  a full  vote,  free  ballot,  and  fair  count  that 
the  people  can  rule,  in  fact,  as  required  by  the  theory  of 
our  government.” — General  Hancock's  Letter  of  Acceptance, 
Our  danger  comes  from  ourselves.  We  have  to  fear 
the  decay  of  public  virtue,  the  growth  of  monopolies,  cor- 
ruption in  public  life,  the  perversion  of  the  ballot-box.”  — 
General  Hawley, 

“ Let  there  be  peace  so  long  as  every  man,  rich  or  poor, 
black  or  white.  North  or  South,  is  allowed  a free  vote,  an 
honest  count,  and  equal  rights  before  the  law.”  — General 
Grant, 

“ The  paramount  question  still  is  as  to  the  enjoyment  of 
the  right  by  every  American  citizen  who  has  the  requisite 
qualifications  to  freely  cast  his  vote,  and  to  have  it  hon- 
estly counted.”  — President  Hayes's  Message, 

“ Wise  politics  is  a thing  of  the  future,  — hot  of  the  past. 
There  is  no  use  of  harboring  thought  of  by-gones,  save  as 
it  may  be  advantageously  employed  in  shaping  coming 
events.”  — Union,  Rochester,  New  York, 

Honest  voting  and  fair  counting  are  the  most  funda- 
mental of  questions  in  a popular  government,  and  when  a 
party  seeks  success  not  by  a free  vote  and  fair  count  .... 
that  attempt  dwarfs  all  other  issues.”  — Harper's  Weekly, 
Is  cheating  to  be  the  law  of  American  politics  ? Is 
roguery  justifiable  as  retaliation  ? Shall  we  put  a premium 
first  on  the  most  ingenious  knavery,  and,  closely  following 
that,  on  the  most  daring  force  ? ” — Republican,  Springfield, 
“ It  would  show  much  more  sense  in  our  politicians  to 
busy  themselves  in  devising  means  for  preventing  fraud  at 
the  next  presidential  election  than  to  keep  howling  about 
fraud  in  the  last  one.”  — Herald,  Boston, 


14  DANGERS  FROM  THE  PERVERSION  OF  THE  BALLOT. 

Purloining  of  ballots,  and  very  important  disagreements 
between  the  number  of  ballots  reported  to  have  been  cast 
and  the  checks  on  the  voting  lists,  are  not  offenses  that  can 
safely  be  condoned.’’  — Transcript^  Boston, 

A real  Yankee  could  get  as  near  the  result  of  an  elec- 
tion by  guessing  as  those  who  count  votes  in  Boston  are 
able  to  get.  City  Hall  motto  : If  at  first  you  don’t  suc- 
ceed, count,  count  again.”  — Herald,^  Boston, 

To  stifle  an  honest  ballot,  freely  given,  is  an  offense 
unpardonable.  It  is  even  worse  than  intimidation,  for  in 
the  latter  case.,  the  offended  party  has  at  least  a show  of 
remedy.”  — Evening  Post^  New  York, 

“ Garcelony  cannot  be  applied  to  national  politics  without 
starting  up  the  danger  signals.  The  country  can  stand  any 
issue  of  ‘ a full  vote,  a fair  ballot,  and  an  honest  count.’  ” — 
Herald^  Boston, 

“ Friends  of  an  honest  and  impartial  suffrage  are  every- 
where coming  to  the  idea  that  every  man  must  vote  as  he 
pleases,  and  have  his  vote  counted  as  he  cast  it.”  — Ex-At- 
torney Gen,  D evens. 

“ I agree  in  the  words  of  the  Democratic  Platform  of 
1880,  that  ‘ the  right  to  a free  ballot  is  the  right  preserva- 
tive of  all  rights,’  and  that  unless  that  right  is  actually  and 
practically  secured,  then  the  foundation  of  all  rights,  polit- 
ical and  civil,  is  taken  away.”  — Hon,  Stanley  Matthews, 

“ Why  shall  we  not  all  join  to  throw  around  the  ballot- 
box  that  protection  which  is  our  security  ? I will  not  flinch 
from  enacting  the  severest  penalties  that  this  Congress  may 
constitutionally  enact  to  preserve  the  purity  of  the  ballot- 
box.”  — Hon,  Ben,  Butter  worth,,  M,  O, 

“ The  duty  of  the  hour  is  action The  work  to 

which  we  should  forthwith  address  ourselves  is  that  of  put- 
ting such  safeguards  around  the  ballot-box  as  will  prevent 
frauds  in  the  future.  It  will  never  do  to  let  another  year 
slip  by  in  indolence,  and  recklessly  to  face  again  the  peril 
from  which  we  have  just  escaped.”  — Advertiser^  Boston. 


That  I may  know  this  pamphlet  reaches  you,  please  acknowledge 
receipt  by  postal  card  or  otherwise.  Additional  copies  can  be  had  at 
Book  and  News  Stores.  Price  lo  cents. 

S.  T.  BACON, 

125  W.  Concord  St.,  Boston,  Mass. 

[The  ballot-box  can  be  seen,  between  ii  and  12  a.  m.,  at  the  office 
of  Baldwins  American  European  Express,'  Sears  Building,  197  Wash- 
ington Street.] 


DANGERS  FROM  THE  PERVERSION  OF  THE  BALLOT.  15 


“ It  has  taken  centuries  to  educate  the  Anglo-Saxon  race 
to  submit  to  a majority  of  one,  and  the  moment  we  refuse 
to  submit,  and  attempt  to  overthrow  popular  election  on 
any  pretext  whatever,  republican  government  is  imperiled, 
if  not  lost.”  — Senator  Blaine, 

“ That  every  elector  shall  be  permitted  freely  ....  to 
cast  his  lawful  ballot  ....  and  have  it  honestly  counted, 
and  that  the  potency  of  his  vote  shall  not  be  destroyed  by 
the  fraudulent  vote  of  any  other  person.”  — General  Gar- 
field's  Letter  of  Acceptance, 

We  cannot  permit  the  ballot-box,  by  which  the  Ameri- 
can people  expresses  its  will,  to  be  tainted  with  fraud.  I 
have  no  patience  with  the  men  who  would  seek  to  divert 
the  attention  of  the  people  from  this  issue.”  — Hon,  Wil- 
liam E,  Chandler, 

Nor  can  I forbear  to  refer  to  the  circumstances  attend- 
ing the  recent  municipal  election  in  the  city  of  Boston, 
which,  if  correctly  reported,  makes  it  peremptory  that  you 
provide  new  safeguards  for  casting,  keeping,  and  counting 
the  ballots.”  — Governor  Long’s  Message, 

“ AVe  demand  a full,  free  vote  and  an  honest  count  .... 
There  ought  to  be  no  delay  in  passing  laws  for  the  super- 
vision and  protection  of  the  ballot  in  the  election  of  mem- 
bers of  the  House  of  Representatives  and  of  electors  of 
President  and  Vice-President.”  — Hon.  George  S,  Boutwell, 

The  machinery  of  a democratic-republican  common- 
wealth has  a higher  end,  and  that  is  to  bring  every  honest 
vote  into  the  ballot-box ; to  surround  it  with  every  safe- 
guard to  its  final  execution  of  the  people’s  will.”  — Hon, 
F,  W,  Bird, 

Let  Lincoln  and  AYashington  lock  their  mighty  palms, 
as  a deathly  garrote,  around  the  neck  of  the  current  and 
crescent  scoundrelism  which  undermines  the  purity  of  our 
ballot-boxes,  and  government  of  the  people,  for  the  people 
and  by  the  people,  will  not  perish  from  the  earth.”  — Jo~ 
seph  Cooh 


16  DANGERS  FROM  THE  PERVERSION  OF  THE  BALLOT. 


The  one  end  to  be  secured  is  honest  elections  and  a 
fair  count  of  votes  freely  cast.”  — The  Times^  New  Torh 
The  sole  basis  upon  which  all  government  rests  is  the 
control  of  all  by  majorities.  Let  the  majority  be  never  so 
small,  it  must  be  as  sacred  as  though  it  were  millions.  It 
becomes  the  will  of  the  people  and  the  supreme  law  of  the 
land.”  — Thos.  B.  Reed,  M (7. 

“They  must  rest  under  the  suspicion  of  honest  men. 
The  simple  facts  of  the  falsification  of  returns,  as  shown 
in  the  figures  of  the  recount,  are  not  to  be  explained  away ; 
while  the  raid  upon  the  ballots  themselves  stands  as  the 
boldest  piece  of  partisan  brigandage  ever  known  in  this 
city.”  — Globe,  Boston, 

“ There  is  a political  cancer  which  has  been,  for  the  last 
two  or  three  decades,  eating  out  the  core  of  our  free,  popu- 
lar institutions Honest  and  fair  elections  lie  at  the 

foundation  of  our  institutions.  When  the  voice  of  the  peo- 
ple, as  expressed  through  the  ballot-box,  ceases  to  control 
the  choice  of  public  officers,  the  American  Republic  will 
have  been  subverted.”  — Herald,  New  York, 

“We  must  find  some  way  to  prevent  fraudulent  voting, 

or  our  government  is  a failure Every  illegal  vote 

tends  to  poison  the  very  springs  and  sources  of  power,  — 
the  very  fountains  of  sovereignty  itself.  This  must  be  done 
away  with,  — it  must ; and  good  men  of  all  parties  must 
unite  and  insist  upon  the  passage  of  laws  that  will  guard  the 
ballot-box  forever.”  — Colonel  Robert  Q,  IngersolL 

“ These  fundamental  truths  make  imperative  demand  fcr 
free  discussion,  untrammeled  voting,  and  honest  counting. 
The  party  that  attempts  to  nullify  or  limit  this  free  action 
of  the  people  — be  it  minority  or  majority  — throttles  the 
very  spirit  of  liberty,  which  is  the  breath  of  life  to  a free 


government And  that  is  the  equivalent  of  tyranny 

and  monarchy.”  — Journal,  Boston, 


“ Members  of  the  Legislature,  from  Boston,  are  re- 
spectfully requested  to  note  the  fact  that  three  months 


DANGERS  FROM  THE  PERVERSION  OF  THE  BALLOT.  17 


have  passed  away  since  our  municipal  election,  and  that  we 
do  not  know  who  was  chosen  the  twelfth  alderman.  If 
our  machinery  is  so  faulty  that  ninety  days  must  elapse  be- 
fore a correct  count  can  be  made,  it  is  time  that  new 
methods  were  invented  for  recording  the  will  of  the  peo- 
ple.” — Journal^  Boston, 

“The  trouble  lies  much  deeper  than  is  generally  sus- 
pected  This  is  to  assume  that  the  fraud  might  still 

have  been  possible,  and  it  would  be  so  unless  the  interior 
of  the  ballot-boxes  were  made  inaccessible  to  the  precinct 
officers.  An  effectual  prevention  of  fraud  requires  a com- 
plete change  in  the  system  of  voting In  some  way 

or  other  the  ballot-box  must  be  protected  against  great 
villains  and  small.”  — Advertiser^  Boston. 

“ The  ballot-box  should  be  the  safeguard  of  the  Repub- 
lic, for  it  is  intended  to  express  the  free  will  of  a free  peo- 
ple. Therefore,  elections  ought  to  be  exempt  from  the 
presence  of  any  menacing  force,  and  to  be  free  from  the 
contamination  of  corrupt  returning  boards.  No  party  de- 
serves confidence  that  seeks  ascendancy  by  striking  down 
honest  suffrage,  either  by  the  use  of  troops,  by  fraud,  or 
by  intimidation.”  — Senator  David  Davis, 

“ We  cordially  invite  the  intelligent  people,  ....  who 
must  lead  ....  if  there  is  to  be  any  progress,  to  join  with 
us  in  the  effort  that  is  being  made  to  secure  union,  peace, 
harmony,  and  prosperity  everywhere  ....  upon  the  only 
foundation  upon  which  it  can  ever  be  secured,  — namely,  a 
fair  and  free  ballot,  an  honest  count,  ....  and  a practical 
belief  in  the  brotherhood  of  man  under  the  fatherhood  of 
God.”  — Gazette^  Cincinnati, 

“ The  foundations  of  free  government  rest  upon  the  pu- 
rity of  the  ballot.  Every  elector  is  entitled  to  have  his  vote 
honestly  counted,  and  to  be  protected  from  all  fraudulent 
practices  in  the  conduct  of  elections.  This  is  the  vital  ele- 
ment of  national  life All  enactments,  whether  na- 

tional or  state,  calculated  to  protect  the  freedom  and  integ- 
2 


18  DANGERS  FROM  THE  PERVERSION  OF  THE  BAELOT. 


rity  of  tlie  elective  franchise,  are  earnestly  to  be  com- 
mended.” — Governor  Cornell's  Message, 

“ It  requires  a great  danger  or  a great  shock  to  public 
confidence,  — like  that  given  by  the  issue  of  the  presiden- 
tial election  of  1876,  — in  order  to  arouse  the  public  mind 

to  action Henceforth,  forcible  revolution  will  be 

the  only  resource  against  usurpation,  unless  the  patriotism 
and  wisdom  of  the  people  and  their  representatives  can 
provide  a speedy  and  certain  method  of  giving  effect  to  the 
will  of  the  people.”  — Hon,  Ahram  S.  Hewitt, 

But  there  is  something  more  valuable  than  gold,  green- 
backs, or  property,  — that  is,  the  right  of  American  citi- 
zens first  to  secure  to  every  lawful  voter  an  opportunity,  at 
every  national  election,  to  cast  one  honest  vote,  and  no  more. 
The  whole  frame-work  of  our  system  depends  upon  fair 
elections.  If  you  poison  the  ballot-box,  it  spreads  through 
the  whole  body  politic.  Successful  fraud  upon  the  ballot- 
box  would  justify  resistance,  and  will  inevitably  lead  to  des- 
potism and  anarchy.”  — Secretary  Sherman, 

Cheating  is  cheating,  and  no  form  of  it  in  connection 
with  the  suffrage  is  so  bad  or  so  dangerous  as  that  which 
defeats  the  actual  will  of  the  people  of  any  State  in  a gen- 
eral election ; for  by  such  action  the  people  of  the  whole 
country  are  wronged.  The  ‘ News  ’ says,  and  we  are  glad  to 
believe  that  it  means  it,  that  ‘ South  Carolina  is  as  deter- 
mined to  have  fair  elections  as  to  retain  good  local  govern- 
ment.’ Precisely  how  this  can  be  done,  it  remarks,  nobody 
can  tell  at  this  moment.”  — Herald^  Boston, 

“ The  second  count  certainly  shows  a remarkable  result, 
and  one  which  suggests  that  something  besides  unavoidable 

errors  in  counting  were  made Neither  can  it  be  accepted 

that  returns  of  ward  officers,  supposed  or  believed  to  be 
erroneous,  must  be  final,  for  this  would  virtually  be  offering 

a premium  upon  rascality Again  we  call  the  attention 

of  the  legislature  to  the  fact  that  it  has  taken  ninety  days 
to  solve  a doubt  which  ought  to  have  been  settled  in  ninety 
minutes.  We  need  a better  method.”  — Journal^  Boston, 


DANGERS  FROM  THE  RERVERSION  OF  THE  BALLOT.  19 


“ I trust  that  proper  means  may  be  resorted  to  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  an  honest  election,  free  from  corruption 
and  interference  of  intriguing  volunteers.  The  repetition 
of  the  events  of  the  last  election  would,  in  my  belief,  seri- 
ously shake  our  government  to  its  foundation.  No  fraud 
this  time,  and  the  prospect  of  the  future  restoration  of  the 
true  government  elected  by  the  people  may  be  counted  on 
as  a blessing  for  many  generations  to  come  after  us,  but  not 
otherwise.”  — Hon,  Charles  Francis  Adams, 

“ When  the  ballot-box  ceases  to  be  sacred,  republican 
institutions  have  become  a sham,  which  the  people  will  no 

longer  tolerate The  time  has  come  when  the  ballot- 

box  must  be  regarded  as  the  holy  Palladium  of  our  coun- 
try’s liberty  and  safety,  — guarded  by  the  wise  brains,  the 
strong  arms,  and  the  generous  hearts  of  the  people ; and 
whoever  ventures  to  touch  it  with  force  or  fraud  should  be 
treated  as  the  parricide  is  treated  who  would  destroy  the 
mother  who  bore  and  nourished  him.’*’  — Rev,  James  Free- 
man Clarice,  D,  D, 

^‘The  abstraction  of  ballots  from  the  box  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  a false  return  is  a crime  against  every  voter, 
....  and  ought  to  put  the  guilty  person  or  persons  behind 
prison  bars  ....  The  honest  voter  has  no  security  except 
in  the  fairness  of  every  other  voter,  and  in  the  honesty  of 
the  count.  If  a trick  like  this  one  can  be  played  with  im- 
punity, there  will  be  men  enough  to  repeat  it  on  a larger 
scale  at  'the  first  opportunity.  It  is  to  be  hoped  the  author- 
ities will  not  let  the  matter  rest,  but  will  hold  the  custo- 
dians of  the  ballot-box  ....  to  a strict  account.” — Ad- 
vertiser^ Boston, 

To  violate  the  freedom  and  sanctity  of  the  suffrage  is 
more  than  an  evil,  — it  is  a crime,  which,  if  persisted  in, 

will  destroy  the  government  itself It  should  be  said 

with  the  utmost  emphasis  that  this  question  of  the  suffrage 
will  never  give  repose  or  safety  to  the  States  of  the  Nation 
until  each,  within  its  own  jurisdiction,  makes  and  keeps  the 


20  DANGERS  FROM  THE  PERVERSION  OF  THE  BALLOT. 

ballot  free  and  pure  by  tlie  strong  sanctions  of  the  law.  . . . 
We  have  no  standard  by  which  to  measure  the  disaster  that 
may  be  brought  upon  us  by  ignorance  and  vice  in  the  citi- 
zens, when  joined  to  corruption  and  fraud  in  the  suffrage.” 

— President  Garfield's  Inaugural, 

The  nation  is  like  a chain.  Its  interests  are  inter- 
woven and  interlapped,  but  its  strength  is  only  that  of  its 
weakest  part.  Let  one  clasp  break,  and  its  security  and 
continuance  are  endangered.  Still,  the  charges  of  fraud  and 

corruption  stagger  a layman  like  myself Purity  in 

elections,  a free  ballot,  a fair  count,  ....  will  be  insisted 
upon  by  the  people.  The  conscience  of  America  is  aroused 
on  this  matter.  Let  all  who  live  recognize  that  he  who 
will  sell  himself  for  a price,  or  offends  against  purity,  must 
bear  the  reproach  of  a united  people.”  — Rev.  Stephen  H. 
Tyng^  Jr.^  D.  D. 

Every  part  of  the  brain  may  be  wounded,  and  the  man 
may  live ; but  whenever  the  inedulla  oblongata  is  touched, 
the  injury  is  fatal.  Now,  the  ballot-box  is  the  medulla  of 
our  political  system.  The  evil  has  ceased  to  be  sporadic, 

— it  has  become  a policy.  Whole  States  are  given  over 

to  fraud  at  the  ballot-box It  is  a crime  to  tamper 

with  the  instruments  of  voting Both  repression  and 

perversion  of  the  vote  are  crimes And  this  has 

grown  to  such  proportions  that  I think  the  good  men  of 
all  parties  are  aroused  to  this  mischief,  and  are  ready  to 
cooperate  in  bringing  it  to  an  end.”  — Rev.  Henry  Ward 
Beecher. 

“ Stuff  the  ballot-box  much  more,  will  it  not  burst  ? 
. . . . The  struggle,  for  both  parties  alike,  is,  of  course, 

for  the  majority  vote All  sorts  of  tricks  and  crimes 

are  committed,  that  the  majority  may  be  secured ; and 
sometimes  the  scale,  according  to  the  count,  hangs  so  even 
as  to  tremble  on  the  beam,  and  hazard  the  Nation’s  order 

and  peace The  trouble  with  us  is,  we  have  so 

slipped  from  the  idea  of  country  into  that  of  party,  .... 


DANGERS  FROM  THE  PERVERSION  OF  THE  BALLOT.  21 


and  unless  we  rise  above  this  mean  notion,  verily  it  will  be 
on  the  effects  of  the  whole,  as  of  an  intestate  person,  that 
some  autocrat  will  administer  by  and  by The  ty- 

rant, indeed,  cannot  be  far  off.”  — Rev,  G,  A,  Bartol^  D,  D, 
“ The  disclosure  of  what  was  done  in  that  ward,  be- 
sides a prevalent  opinion  that  things  might  have  been  done 
wrong  at  other  wards  and  skillfully  covered,  will  lead  to 
a call  upon  the  legislature  for  more  effectual  guarantees 
than  now  exist  against  the  incapacity  and  rascality  of  pre- 
cinct officers Rascality  in  one  or  two  precincts  may 

turn  the  scale  with  the  city,  nearly  divided  between  the 

parties No  one  can  tell  how  much  time  may  elapse 

before  another  close  vote What  the  people  want  is 

the  certainty,  so  far  as  it  can  be  obtained  from  fallible  hu- 
manity, that  they  are  not  cheated  by  their  own  officials.”  — 
Transcript,  Boston, 

Twice  in  the  history  of  the  United  States  the  Nation 
has  been  brought  to  the  verge  of  civil  war  by  difficulties 

growing  out  of  presidential  elections It  therefore 

results  that  in  every  part  of  the  country,  once  in  four  years, 
the  electors  are  excited  by  feelings  connected  with  the 
presidential  election.  ....  This  makes  the  election  enlist 
all  the  feelings,  excite  all  the  passions,  and  involve  all  the 
dangers  usually  accompanying  the  choice  of  an  elective 
king Every  ambitious  man  sees  his  personal  inter- 

est involved  in  the  struggle,  and  every  unscrupulous  man, 
who  is  also  ambitious,  feels  the  temptation  to  employ  unfair 
means  to  accomplish  the  desired  result,  when  honest  means 
are  inadequate.”  — Judge  Thomas  M,  Cooley, 

The  real  significance  of  this  declaration,  which  appears 
to  have  been  missed  in  some  quarters,  is  the  President’s 
plain  avowal  of  his  belief  that  the  Nation,  as  well  as  the 
States,  has  a jurisdiction  over  the  ballot-box,  which  it 
should  assert  in  helping  to  keep  the  suffrage  free  and  pure. 
....  Men  who  are  more  concerned  for  honest  elections 
and  for  good  government  than  for  partisan  success  obtained 


22  DANGERS  FROM  THE  PERVERSION  OF  THE  BALLOT. 


‘ at  any  cost  ’ will  naturally  support  the  position  taken  by 

the  President The  United  States  cannot  be,  in  any 

practical  sense,  a Nation,  unless  it  has  the  power  to  protect 
citizens  whose  highest  allegiance  it  claims,  and  to  guarantee 
to  each  State  such  a republican  form  of  government  as  is 
based  upon  the  will  of  the  majority,  fairly  and  freely  ex- 
pressed and  lawfully  executed.”  — Herald^  Boston, 

“ But  one  may  run  a risk  once  too  often The 

people  are  loyal,  law-abiding.  They  prefer  order,  and 

have  no  taste  for  misrule  and  uproar Let  the  good 

citizen  perform  the  duties  put  on  him  here  and  now.  It  is 
not  possible  to  extricate  yourself  from  the  questions  in 
which  your  age  is  involved It  is  not  by  heads  re- 

verted ....  that  you  can  combat  the  dangers  and  dragons 


that  beset  the  United  States  at  this  time We‘want 

a state  of  things  in  which  crime  will  not  pay It  is 


our  part  to  carry  out,  to  the  last,  the  ends  of  liberty  and 
justice.  We  shall  stand  then  for  vast  interests.  North 
and  South,  East  and  West,  will  be  present  to  our  minds, 
and  our  vote  will  be  as  if  they  voted,  and  we  shall  know 
that  our  vote  secures  the  foundations  of  the  State.”  — 
Ralph  Waldo  Emerson, 

It  is  universally  admitted  that  at  least  250  ballots  were 
stolen  from  Precinct  3,  Ward  13,  Tuesday  evening.  Who 
stole  them  ? This  is  a question  which  must  be  answered ; 
and  when  it  is  answered  the  next  thing  will  be  to  punish 
the  rascal  as  he  deserves.  It  matters  not  of  what  party  he 
may  be,  or  how  high  in  party  management  may  stand  the 
persons  who  incited  him  to  the  crime.  No  one  connected 
with  this  shameful  outrage  upon  honest  suffrage  ....  can 
be  permitted  to  go  unpunished.  It  is  not  a wrong  against 
any  political  party,  but  against  the  whole  body  of  our  citi- 
zens ; for  all  are  equally  interested  in  securing  a fair  elec- 
tion, ....  and  all  are  equally  injured  when  fraud  pre- 
vents an  honest  expression  of  the  will  of  the  people 

Boston  cannot  afford  to  let  such  a thing  as  this  pass  as  a 
harmless  vagary  of  the  election.”  — Glohe^  Boston, 


DANGERS  FROM  THE  PERVERSION  OF  THE  BALLOT.  23 

The  corruption  or  destruction  of  the  ballot  is  a crime 
against  free  government,  and,  when  successful,  is  sub- 
version of  free  government The  mighty  power  of 

fifty  millions  of  people  — with  a continent  for  their  posses- 
sion — can  only  be  wielded  permanently  by  being  wielded 
•honestly.  In  a fair  and  generous  struggle  for  partisan 
power  let  us  not  forget  those  issues  and  ends  which  are 
above  party.  Organized  wrong  will  ultimately  be  met  by 
organized  resistance.  Impartial  suffrage  is  our  theory ; 
it  must  become  our  practice.  Any  party  of  American  citi- 
zens can  bear  to  be  defeated,  but  no  party  of  Americans 
will  bear  to  be  defrauded.  The  men  who  are  interested  in 
a dishonest  count  are  units ; and  the  men  who  are  interested 

in  an  honest  count  are  millions To  this  simple  and 

sublime  principle  let  us,  in  the  lofty  language  of  Burke, 
attest  the  retiring  generations  ; let  us  attest  the  advanc- 
ing generations,  between  which,  as  a link  in  the  great  chain 
of  eternal  order,  we  stand.’’  — Senatar  Blaine, 

A government  based  upon  popular  suffrage  can  be  suc- 
cessful in  the  best  sense  only  to  the  extent  that  the  popu- 
lar voice  is  freely  expressed,  fairly  and  honestly  ascertained, 
and  fully  obeyed.  It  is  therefore  of  the  greatest  consequence 
that  the  purity  and  sanctity  of  the  ballot  should  be  guarded 
by  the  wisest  and  best  legislation  that  statesmanship  can 
devise.  It  is  impossible  to  overestimate  the  importance  of 
this  subject  in  a government  such  as  ours,  where  the  su- 
preme power  is  vested  only  in  the  people,  to  be  exercised 
by  means  of  the  ballot.  Fairness  and  honesty  in  the  con- 
duct of  elections  will  alone  keep  pure  the  sources  of  power 

in  the  government Wise  and  prudent  citizens  may 

well  say  that  if  we  lose  faith  in  the  machinery  provided  for 
the  expression  of  the  popular  will,  we  must  also  eventually 

lose  faith  in  our  free  government The  problem  of 

how  to  secure  and  preserve  freedom  and  fairness  in  elec- 
tions grows  annually  more  grave  and  difficult To 

be  assured  that  this  problem  has  been  solved  is  to  know 


24  DANGERS  FROM  THE  PERVERSION  OF  THE  BALLOT. 


that  our  greatest  danger  has  been  removed  — and  therefore 
every  citizen  should  be  willing  to  contribute  towards  its 

solution I maintain  that  plain,  simple,  and  ample 

remedies  are  within  our  reach  ; the  adoption  of  which  would 
injure  none,  while,  as  nearly  as  human  laws  could  do  so, 

they  would  protect  the  rights  of  all The  task  of 

providing  against  the  most  crying  evils  of  our  system  of 
election  laws  should  be  approached  with  the  conviction  that 
the  people  can  well  afford  to  be  put  to  some  pains  and  ex- 
pense in  order  to  protect  the  purity  of  the  ballot,  and  if 
thus  approached  the  problem  will  be  found  very  easy  of 
solution.  ....  No  difference  of  opinion  can  exist  among 
honest  men  as  to  the  propriety,  nay,  the  necessity,  of  secur- 
ing these  ends,  which  all  will  admit  constitute  the  founda- 
tions upon  which  the  fabric  of  free  government  rests.  To 
render  them  secure  is  to  perpetuate  our  institutions,  and 
transmit  them  pure  and  strong  to  future  generations.”  — 
Secretary  Me  Grary, 


A EEMEDY  RECOMMENDED. 


OPINIONS  OF  SCIENTIFIC  EXPERTS,  ATTESTING  THE 

PRACTICABILITY  OF  THE  BACON  ANTI-FRAUD  BAL- 
LOT-BOX TO  ACCOMPLISH  THE  END  SOUGHT. 

“Very  ingenious  and  complete.”  — Professor  R.  W Ray- 
mond^ Editor  of  Engineering  and.  Mining  Journal,  New 
York. 

It  is  all  that  you  claim  for  it.  It  cannot  but  do  its 
work  as  designed,  without  fail.”  — E,  Howard,  of  Howard 
Watch  ^ Clock  Co, 

Entirely  practical Admirably  adapted  to  the 

purpose  intended.  ....  You  are  entitled  to  the  thanks  of 
the  country  for  your  invaluable  invention.”  — Horace  Lord, 
SupH.  Colt's  P,  F,  Arms  Co. 

‘‘  It  will  do  a good  work  perfectly,  if  unscrupulous  poli- 
ticians will  stand  aside  and  allow  it  to  go  into  use 

A prohibitory  law  which  all  good  citizens  will  approve.”  — 
Jas.  H Roberts,  Machinist, 

“ A combination  of  strength  and  simplicity,  cunningly 
contrived  to  the  end  sought,  namely,  an  honest  vote,  count, 
and  tabulation,  by  means  at  once  practical  and  within  the 
easy  comprehension  of  those  who  conduct  elections.”  — 
General  E.  W.  Serrell,  Civil  Engineer. 

“ A really  anti-fraud  ballot-box,  — not  liable  to  derange- 
ment, easily  operated,  and  yet  so  practical  and  efficient  that 
the  ordinary  election  officer  must  find  it  a great  assistance 
in  the  canvassing  and  counting  of  ballots.”  — Charles  B, 
Richards,  Mechanical  Engineer,  Supt.  Southwark  Foundry 
and  Machine  Co.,  Philadelphia. 


26 


A REMEDY  RECOMMENDED. 


Election  officers  will  find  tins  system  of  voting  and 
counting  ballots  less  intricate  and  more  expeditious  than 
the  present  method  ; while  for  simplicity,  accuracy,  relia- 
bility to  perform  its  functions,  and  non-liability  to  get  out 
of  order,  it  is  preeminent.’^  — Thomas  Leavitt^  Mechanical 
Engineer. 

“ In  a mechanical  sense,  it  cannot  fail  to  perform  its 
work  accurately.  It  has  no  complicated  details  to  puzzle 
officials ; on  the  contrary,  it  will  simplify  and  expedite  their 
labors  in  ascertaining  the  exact  results  of  all  the  lawful 
votes  cast.”  — F,  W.  Howe^  Mechanical  Engineer^  late  of 
the  Firm  of  Broion  ^ Sharpe  Mfg.  Co. 

A very  important  invention  for  the  prevention  of 
frauds  at  elections,  and  worthy  the  best  attention  of  those 
public-spirited  men  who  have  done  so  much  to  secure  a 
pure  ballot.  As  a mechanical  device  it  is  perfect,  — du- 
rable in  construction,  simple  in  operation,  and  certain  in  ac- 
tion.” — Charles  Whittier^  PresH.  Whittier  Machine  Co. 

“ The  mechanism  of  your  improved  ballot-box  appears  to 
me  to  be  ingeniously  arranged  for  the  receiving,  registering, 
and  counting  of  ballots  deposited,  and  I can  see  no  reason 
why,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  any  of  the  machinery 
would  be  liable  to  get  out  of  order  from  either  use  or  wear.” 
— Ex- Mayor  J.  M.  Wightman^  Manufacturer  of  Philo  soph- 
teal  Instruments. 

“ I cannot  conceive  of  the  devising  of.  a ballot-box  that 
will  defeat  frauds,  and  attain  the  legal  results  of  elections, 
in  a more  direct  and  practical  manner  than  the  one  now 
before  me.  It  cannot  fail  to  give  eminent  satisfaction  to 
all  honest  voters  and  candidates,  and  the  election  officials 
who,  under  the  old  system,  have  the  seemingly  difficult  task 
of  determining  the  results  of  the  vote.”  — Anthony  Pol- 
loh,  Expert  and  Counsel  in  Patent  Causes. 

‘‘  The  ^ checks  and  balances  ’ that  are  attainable  in  your 
ballot-box  would  have  been  quite  sufficient  to  have  se- 
cured, shortly  after  the  close  of  the  polls,  a just  result 


A REMEDY  RECOMMENDED. 


27 


of  the  recent  election  in  Boston  ; while  those  who  would 
attempt  the  dastardly  acts  that  have  fastened  so  much  dis- 
grace, labor,  and  expense  upon  the  city  would  have  been 
detected.  In  the  interest  of  common  justice,  order,  and 
economy,  let  us  have  your  simple  and  efficient  box.’’  — Ex- 
Alderman  Charles  R.  AIcLean^  Pres.  Am.  Tool  and  Ma- 
chine Company. 

‘‘  From  my  frequent  intercourse  with  you  during  your 
four  years’  labors  to  secure  the  honest  results  of  elections, 
I am  sure  you  have  solved  the  problem  effectually.  Your 
ballot-box  secures  strict  secrecy  to  every  lawful  vote  ; gives 
an  alarm  as  each  is  received  ; accompanied  with  a metallic 
washer  to  detect  stuffing,  repeating,  personating,  stealing,  ex- 
changing, canceling,  counting  in  or  out,  false  counting,  re- 
turning, and  tabulating.  It  counts  and  files  each  ballot  and 
washer  consecutively  on  a wire  in  the  box,  beyond  the  reach 
of  any  hand,  and  shows  the  aggregate  vote,  with  which  the 
official  count  must  agree,  the  box  not  being  opened  dur- 
ing all  this  time  ; and  when  the  polling  is  over  a metallic 
seal  makes  the  wire  endless,  while  the  canvass  and  count 
proceeds.  The  votes  are  thus  retained  in  their  original 
condition  for  recount,  in  case  the  returns  or  tabulations  ap- 
pear to  be  erroneous  or  fraudulent.  It  allows  the  counting 
to  proceed  while  voting  is  in  progress.  Durable  and  sim- 
ple, its  use  will  reduce  the  labors  of  officials,  and  enable 
them  to  reach  an  accurate  result  within  an  hour  from  the 
close  of  the  polls  ; while  the  cost  and  bad  feeling  engen- 
dered by  contested  elections  will  be  obviated.”  — H.  A.  G. 
Pomeroy^  late  Civil  Engineer  Coifs  P.  F.  Arms  Co. 


GENERAL  COMMENDATIONS 


OT  THE  PKESS,  CLERGY,  STATESMEN,  AND  BUSINESS 
MEN. 

“ It  is  an  ‘ electoral  law  ’ in  itself.”  — J,  G,  Bates, 

A great  desideratum  in  American  elections.” — Prof. 
Goldwin  Smith, 

“ Nothiog  but  a sledge  hammer  can  beat  it.”  — Ex- Gov- 
ernor Young,  M.  G, 

It  will  greatly  aid  me  in  my  efforts  to  secure  honest 
elections.”  — Hon.  John  I.  Davenport. 

Proof  against  all  frauds  hitherto  used,  — preeminently 
practical  and  useful.”  — Wendell  Phillips. 

‘‘A  wonderfully  complete  and  effective  invention  to  de- 
tect and  defeat  frauds  at  elections.”  — Geo.  Wm.  Bond. 

“A  most  ingenious  and  effective  arrangement  for  pre- 
venting election  frauds.”  — E.  L.  Godhin,  of  the  Nation. 

It  will  detect  and  defeat  most  of  the  gross  frauds  now 
so  prevalent  in  our  elections.”  — Hon.  George  Bliss. 

“ Certainly  an  ingenious  invention,  and  I should  think 
a practicable  one.”  — Col.  Thos.  Wentworth  Higginson. 

“ Remarkably  calculated  to  command  and  secure  honesty 
in  elections.”  — Hon.  Nahum  Gapen,  LL.  D.,  Author  of 
“ The  History  of  DemocracyJ^ 

Greatly  interested  and  surprised  at  the  scope  and  com- 
pleteness of  this  wondrous  contrivance.”  — Rev.  A.  A.  Miner, 
D.  D. 

It  will  effectually  defeat  the  frauds  upon  the  ballot,  and 
should  be  adopted  by  all  the  States.”  — Hon.  Edward 
Cooper,  Ex-Mayor  of  New  York. 


GENERAL  COMMENDATIONS. 


29 


“ It  is  a macliine  to  compel  honest  voting.  It  may  bring 
in  the  millennium  ! Who  knows  ? ” — Rev,  Henry  Ward 
Beecher, 

“ Unless  something  of  this  kind  is  resorted  to,  I fear  our 
government  will  end  in  anarchy.”  — Hon,  Leverett  Salton- 
stall, 

“ It  meets  a real  want  in  elections,  — preventing  the  worst 
forms  of  frauds  practiced  by  the  unprincipled.”  — Rev,  John 
P.  Newman,,  D,  D, 

“ Renders  voting  frauds  almost  impossible Some- 

thing in  which  honest  men  and  patriots  are  deeply  inter- 
ested.” — W,  D,  Howells,,  while  Editor  Atlantic  Monthly, 

“ Desperate  diseases  require  desperate  remedies,  but 
here  is  a desperate  disease  with  a simple  remedy.”  — Ben- 
jamin H West,  M,  D, 

A complete  safeguard  ....  if  material  security  may  be 
adopted ; this  gives  more  promise  of  usefulness  than  any  I 
have  seen.”  — Ex-  Gov,  Alex,  H,  Rice, 

“ I wish  you  all  success  in  your  efforts,  but  I am  too 
much  occupied  with  other  matters  to  be  able  to  give  it  per- 
sonal attention.”  — Gyrus  W,  Field,  LL,  D, 

Feeling  a deep  interest  in  the  question  of  honest  voting, 
I shall  be  glad  of  the  success  of  any  method  in  that  direc- 
tion.” — Hon,  Peter  T,  Homer. 

“ An  extremely  efficient  method  for  ascertaining  an  hon- 
est and  accurate  result  at  the  polls.”  — Ex-Mayor  Samuel 
G,  Gohh, 

“ One  of  the  most  perfect  safeguards  against  frauds  yet 
discovered,  and  also  a device  for  facilitating  the  counting  of 
the  ballots.”  — E.  M,  Stone,  in  Journal  of  Gommerce, 

“ A very  ingenious  and  simple  affair,  and  contains  safe- 
guards that  seem  perfect  against  all  known  methods  of 
frauds  at  elections.” — Advertiser,  Boston, 

“ A ballot-box  like  this,  to  secure  a fair  vote  and  an  accu- 
rate count,  should  encounter  no  opposition  to  its  universal 
introduction.”  — Hon,  Wm,  A,  Simmons, 


30 


GENERAL  COMMENDATIONS. 


Have  examined  this  instrument  with  great  interest 

Protection  of  the  ballot  against  fraud  will  be  hailed  as  the 
great  reform  of  the  age.’’  — Rev,  J.  L,  Dudley, 

It  deserves  a very  careful  consideration  on  the  part  of 
public  men  whose  ambition  is  to  keep  the  ballot-box  from 
fraud  and  corruption.”  — Hon.  Daniel  Needham, 

It  would  tend  to  allay  much  of  the  bitter  strife  now  so 
prevalent,  for  it  would,  in  a manner  not  to  be  disputed,  show 
who  had  the  most  legal  votes.”  — Gov,  Daniel  F,  Davis. 

A beautiful  mechanical  achievement,  which  appears  to 
be  a complete  safeguard.  I should  like  to  see  it  in  general 
use  in  all  the  States.”  — Collector  A.  W.  Beard,  Boston, 

Do  not  take  to  yourself  too  much  credit  for  this  immac- 
ulate invention,  for  the  Supreme  Architect  directed  and 
guided  you  from  the  beginning.”  — J.  K.  Southmayd. 

“ All  patriotic  citizens  are  deeply  interested  in  having  a 
strictly  anti-fraud  ballot-box  introduced.  To  my  mind  yours 
appears  to  fulfill  this  requirement.”  — Jackson  S,  Schultz. 

If  you  can  aid  Mr.  Bacon  in  introducing  his  ballot-box, 
you  will  never  have  to  give  yourself  any  anxiety  about 
obtaining  a fair  vote.”  — D.  H.  Craig,  Inceptor  of  Rapid 
Telegraphy, 

It  appears  to  be  an  effectual  remedy  against  frauds  upon 
the  ballot,  and  I will  cheerfully  render  you  such  assistance 
as  I can  to  its  introduction.” — Col.  Henry  Walker,  Police 
Commissioner,  Boston. 

^‘Your  ballot-box  prevents  fraud,  in  that  it  substitutes 
incorruptible  machinery  for  corruptible  humanity.  No  hon- 
est citizen  need  fear  the  results  of  such  election  safeguards.” 
— Parker  C.  Chandler, 

If  the  use  of  your  ballot-box  can  be  enforced  by  law,  it 
will  greatly  simplify  and  expedite  our  elections,  and  bar  the 
prevailing  frauds  therein.”  — Thos,  C.  Acton,  Superintendent 
of  Assay  Office,  New  York. 

“ This  is  the  cutest  Yankee  invention  I have  seen.  It 
will  detect  illegal  votes,  bounce  the  political  bummers,  and 


GENERAL  COMMENDATIONS. 


31 


give  the  honest  results  of  elections  easily  and  expeditiously.” 

— CoL  Roh't  G.  IngersolL 

“ Legislative  bodies  should  give  the  subject  presented  by 
your  ballot-box  careful  and  deliberate  attention,  with  a 
view  to  legislation  compelling  its  use,  either  in  whole  or  in 
part.”  — Uriel  H,  Cr ocher. 

Repeating  would  be  practically  useless  in  a box  of  this 
kind There  are  other  admirable  features  to  this  in- 

vention, which,  it  is  said,  are  perfect  guards  against  fraud.” 

— Eagle,  Brooklyn,  N,  Y, 

I am  greatly  pleased  with  your  skillful  invention,  for  its 
valuable  safeguards,  and  the  assistance  it  will  render  officials 
in  determining  the  results  of  elections  with  accuracy  and 
expedition.”  — Ex- Gov,  Wm.  Gaston, 

“ A true  protection  against  the  frauds  which  are  so  rap- 
idly bringing  our  elections  into  disrepute Certainly^ 

the  magnitude  of  the  interests  involved  make  the  expense 
of  little  consequence.”  — Wm,  Eidicott,,  Jr, 

“You  ought  not  to  experience  any  difficulty  in  introduc- 
ing your  ballot-box,  — calculated  as  it  is  to  avert  the  evil 
tendencies  of  elections,  and  enhance  the  real  interests -of 
government  and  the  people.”  — Henry  N,  Sawyer, 

“ The  ingenuity  of  ballot-box  staffers  is  met  by  the  in- 
genuity of  the  inventor,  and  the  fraud  of  rogues  is  overcome 
by  the  honest  laws  of  mechanics.  ‘ The  honest  legislator 
should  welcome  this  reinforcement  as  a blessing.’  ” — Hon, 
Thomas  Bussell, 

“ An  ingenious  contrivance  to  prevent  ballot-stuffing, 
false  counting,  etc.,  which  might  w^ell  be  introduced  by  law. 
There  have  been  times  when  such  a ballot-box  would  have 
prevented  gross  frauds.”  — F,  B,  Sanborn,  in  Springfield 
Republican, 

“ Impresses  us  favorably,  and  we  do  not  see  why  it  may 
not,  if  supplemented  by  law  defining  its  use,  do  all  that  is 

claimed  for  it Must  entitle  its  inventor  to  the  thanks 

of  all  friends  of  good  government.”  — Monitor,  Concord, 

N,  H. 


32 


GENERAL  COMMENDATIONS. 


The  virtues  and  equities  which  the  use  of  your  thought- 
ful invention  would  infuse  into  the  politics  of  this  country 
should  be  a sufficient  argument  for  its  speedily  gaining  leg- 
islative favor.” — Ex- Alderman  Worthington^  of  the  Traveller  j 
Boston. 

Joseph  Cook’s  approval  of  a specially  ingenious  anti- 
fraud ballot-box  means  that,  while  rascals  have  applied 
great  ingenuity  to  the  perpetration  of  frauds,  our  States, 
governed  by  honest  men,  should  apply  equal  ingenuity  to 
baffle  frauds.”  — The  Independent, 

‘‘We  are  both  engaged  in  a crusade  against  frauds, — 
one  species  tending  to  undermine  the  constitutions  of  the 
people,  and  the  other  the  Republic.  May  success  attend 
the  labors  of  those  who  promote  the  best  good  of  all.”  — 
Geo.  T.  Angell. 

% “ Having  carefully  examined  your  system,  and  seen  ev- 
ery objection  and  contingency  provided  for,  I feel  certain 
that  when  it  is  known  by  the  potential  members  of  the  two 
great  parties  they  cannot  refuse  to  interest  themselves  in 
its  behalf.”  — J.  C.  Wyman. 

“ Congress  and  all  the  States  should,  without  any  hesita- 
tion or  delay,  pass  appropriate  legislation  compelling  the 
use  of  this  simple  and  equitable  method  for  securing  an 
honest  vote  and  an  accurate  count.”  — Hon.  Peter  Cooper^ 
LL.  D. 

“ The  recent  near  approach  of  our  government  to  an- 
archy, by  reason  of  a disputed  election,  should  admonish 
our  law-makers  to  guard  against  a repetition  of  the  evil. 
Your  box  seems  to  possess  the  safeguards  that  are  essential 
to  this  end.”  — HD.  Cushing. 

“ Yours  is  the  Battle  of  the  Great  Day.  Righteousness 
and  Iniquity  confront  each  other,  as  you  come  quietly  upon 
the  stage,  and,  with  your  ballot-box,  calmly  pull  down  this 
Kingdom,  of  Fraud  ! Never  suffer  your  faith  to  waver  as  to 
which  shall  conquer.” — A South  Carolinian. 

“ The  evil  is  of  great  magnitude,  and  many  people  here 


GENERAL  COMMENDATIONS. 


83 


feel  that  it  is  of  little  use  to  vote,  inasmuch  as  the  re- 
turns are  so  often  fraudulent.  What  we  need  is  to  have 
the  lawful  votes  returned  as  they  are  cast,  without  addition, 
subtraction,  or  alteration.’’ — Hon.  Geo.  G.  Crocker. 

“ I have  conferred  with  several  prominent  citizens  of  San 
Francisco,  and  do  not  doubt,  if  you  bring  your  ballot-box 
here,  that  they  will  interest  themselves  to  secure  its  speedy 
adoption.  There  is  need  enough  of  it,  if  the  Republic  is 
to  endure.” — Judge  J.  W.  North. 

‘‘  It  cannot  be  adopted  too  soon  ....  and  for  the  next 
presidential  election.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  political 
housekeeping  in  New  Hampshire,  but  would  be  a good 
thing  to  have  in  the  house,  nevertheless.”  — Hon.  0.  G. 
Moore.,  in  The  Telegraphy  Nashua^  N.  H 

“ This  stuffing  of  ballot-boxes  has  extended  from  the 
cities  to  the  rural  districts,  and  is  rotting  out  the  very 
foundations  of  a representative  government.  A mechanical 
contrivance  like  this,  to  arrest  these  terrible  frauds,  ought 
to  be  resorted  to.” — Don  Piatt. 

The  stern  mandate  of  your  unrivaled  ballot-box  can  but 
secure  to  the  government  and  people  of  our  Union  ends 
that  make  for  peace.  Therefore,  the  generous  cooperation 
of  all  good  citizens,  to  make  it  the  standard,  should  be 
promptly  given.” — Charles  E.  Wiggin. 

Against  all  the  tricks  of  the  machine  in  politics,  I 
would  back  your  instrument  at  the  polls.  It  would  defeat 

them  all It  will  do  more  to  guard  the  ballot-box 

from  the  profanation  of  politicians  than  all  the  churches, 
all  the  journals,  and  all  the  orators  in  the  land.”~-e7ames 
Redpath. 

believe  your  anti-fraud  ballot-box  to  be  correctly 
named.  The  rapidity  and  ease  with  which  it  can  be  oper- 
ated, and  the  assistance  it  will  render  officials  in  determin- 
ing the  results  of  a vote,  mark  it  as  a reform  greatly  to  be 
desired.”  — Wm,  A.  Gamp,  Manager  Clearing- House y New 
York. 


3 


34 


GENERAL  COMMENDATIONS. 


Any  practical  ballot-box  that  will  defeat  the  frauds 
of  unprincipled  men  at  the  polls,  and  secure  an  honest  vote 
and  an  honest  count,  ought  to  find  favor  with  every  lover 
of  his  country.  I will  do  what  I can  to  facilitate  your 
endeavors  to  place  your  box  before  the  proper  authori- 
ties.”— Mayor  Frederick  0.  Prince, 

‘‘  One  of  the  most  curious  and  valuable  ....  devices  for 

securing  a fair  election  and  an  honest  count Would 

prevent  any  person  from  casting  more  than  one  ballot,  or 

at  least  prevent  more  than  one  being  counted As 

nearly  perfect  a device  for  preventing  fraud  at  the  polls  as 
has  been  devised.”  — Whitelaw  Reid,  in  The  Tribune, 

A ballot-box  of  this  kind  should  be  universally  adopted. 
It  would  compel  a large  number  of  political  bummers  and 
leeches  to  go  to  work  for  an  honest  living.  Our  coming 
General  Assembly  would  do  well  to  examine  the  inven- 
tion, and  if  it  does  all  that  it  promises  order  its  use  in  all 
elections.” — Palladium,  New  Haven,  Conn, 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  machine  combines  simplicity, 
efficiency,  and  rapidity;  ....  hardly  possible  for  it  to  get 

out  of  order There  can  be  no  collusion  to  defraud 

among  the  ward  officers  ; . . . . cannot  be  tampered  with, 
. ...  on  account  of  the  seal,  which,  unlike  the  tape  de- 
vices now  in  use,  cannot  be  destroyed  by  anything  but  act- 
ual violence.”  — Advertiser,  Boston, 

It  is  a patriotic  invention.  It  has  good  masticating 
power,  and  cannot  be  stuffed.  It  has  a good  arithmetic,  and 
cannot  be  miscounted.  It  has  the  eyes  of  the  eagle  and  of 
the  owl,  and  cannot  be  eluded  by  day  or  by  night.  All  it 
lacks  is  a soul.  Let  the  legislatures  give  it  that,  by  making 
it  legal.  It  is  the  friend  of  the  Republic,  seeking  peace, 
order,  and  fraternity,  and  deserves  to  live.  It  cannot  harm 
the  honest  voter ; give  it  a chance  to  harm  the  dishonest 
voter.”  — Rev,  G,  H.  Fowler,  D.  I),,  LL,  D. 

“ A very  valuable  contribution  to  the  honesty  of  elec^ 
tions  is  the  Bacon  ballot-box  ....  which  deserves  the 


GENERAL  COMMENDATIONS. 


35 


most  careful  attention  of  all  who  are  interested  in  honest 
voting  and  counting,  ....  very  simple,  ....  and  re- 
quires only  slight  changes  in  the  electoral  laws It 

has  been  tested  by  skillful  experts,  who  have  ingeniously 
sought  to  evade  its  operations,  but  every  point  appears 
to  have  been  guarded.”  — Geo.  Wm.  Curtis,  in  Havper's 
Weekly. 

“ There  was  a ballot-box  shown  in  this  city  some  two  or 
three  years  since,  which  numbered  the  ballots  consecutively 
as  they  were  deposited,  kept  a record  of  the  whole  number, 
and  admitted  only  one  at  a time.  Some  such  arrangement, 
....  will  have  to  be  adopted  if  we  are  to  have  satisfactory 
and  conclusive  counts.  It  will  be  urged  that  the  people 
want  to  know  who  is  elected  before  they  go  home  election 
night.  Election  was  three  months  ago,  and  they  donH  know 
yeC^  — Transcript,  Boston. 

“ In  spite  of  the  simplicity  of  the  mechanism,  a dozen 
forms  of  frauds  in  ballot-boxes  are  prevented  entirely,  or 
certainly  embarrassed,  by  use  of  this  hook,  the  washers,  the 
bell,  and  the  enumerator.  A full  ballot,  an  intelligent  bal- 
lot, a ballot  independent  of  political  partisanship,  a ballot 
fairly  counted,  — these  reforms,  and  nothing  less,  will  pre- 
vent republican  governments,  under  universal  suffrage,  from 
perishing  off  the  face  of  the  earth.  State  legislatures  and 
Congress  ought  to  examine  carefully  and  promptly,  and 
adopt  this  brilliant  invention.” — Joseph  Cook. 

Our  only  salvation  is  in  the  protection  of  the  ballot. 
An  honest  vote,  count,  and  tabulation,  are  the  important  re- 
sults that  must  be  insured.  By  the  use  of  this  box,  no 
person  can  cast  more  than  one  vote  without  detection; 
and  stuffing,  in  any  manner,  is  impossible.  A correct  and 
honest  count  is  insured,  and  every  possibility  of  making 
false  returns  is  precluded.  All  this  is  done,  and  the  voting 
proceeded  with  in  even  more  rapidity  than  in  the  ordi- 
nary way.  The  box  is  very  simple  in  its  mechanism,  and 


3G 


GENERAL  COMMENDATIONS. 


can  be  furnished  at  trifling  expense.’’ — J,  W,  Hayes^  in 
The  Union,  Kenosha,  Wisconsin, 

We  give  it  our  cordial  approbation,  and  desire  its  adop- 
tion : ” — 

Otis  Norcross  . . . Boston 

William  Endicott,  Jr. 

J.  Iiigersoll  Bowditcli 
H.  O.  Houghton 
Bufus  S.  Frost 
Leverett  Saltonstall 
A.  A.  Aliner 
Ezra  E'arnsworth 
Edward  Austin 
Wendell  Phillips  “ 

Charles  R.  Train  “ 

Simple  in  construction  and  inexpensive,  ....  it  has 
been  examined  with  much  interest  by  a number  of  gen- 
tlemen interested  to  secure  the  purity  of  the  ballot ; and 
the  general  verdict  appears  to  be  that  it  will  accomplish 
all  that  Air.  Bacon  claims.  It  registers  the  number  of 
votes,  exposes  any  attempt  at  stuffing,  facilitates  the  can- 
vass of  votes  cast,  and  prevents  the  marking,  abstraction, 
subtraction,  or  addition  of  ballots  by  dishonest  officials. 
When  two  or  more  ballots  are  found  between  any  two  of  the 
washers,  it  is  evident  that  there  has  been  accidental  or  in- 
tentional ‘stuffing,’  and  in  such  a case  only. one  ballot  is 
counted,  the  other  or  others  being  cut  diagonally  across,  so 
that  the  record  of  fraud  or  accident  shall  remain.  Thus  the 
number  of  ballots  counted  and  the  number  of  washers  sep- 
arating each  legal  ballot  from  any  other  will  correspond 
with  the  number  indicated  by  the  register.  After  the  votes 
have  all  been  counted  the  box  is  again  closed  and  sealed,  in 
which  condition  it  will  remain  until  the  retention  of  the 
ballots  is  no  longer  necessary.”  — Boston. 

“ PAerybody  is  willing  to  admit  that  the  permanence  of 
our  institutions  of  government  depends,  in  a very  great  de- 


Stanley  Alatthews  Cincinnati. 
Jacob  D.  Cox  “ 

Alfonso  Taft  “ 

George  A.  Smith  “ 

William  Wiswell  “ 

John  A.  Gano  “ 

Julius  Dexter  “ 

Henry  Kesler  “ 

Ben.  Butterworth  “ 

Thomas  L.  Young  “ 


GENERAL  COMMENDATIONS. 


37 


gree,  upon  maintaining  the  purity  of  the  ballot.  For  years 
it  has  been  a stigma  and  a reproach  upon  the  people  of  the 
United  States  that  in  many  localities  the  count  of  the  votes 
in  the  ballot-box,  or  the  return  of  the  officer,  did  not  fur- 
nish a true  index  of  the  popular  will ; and  the  near  ap- 
proach of  the  country  to  the  verge  of  anarchy,  as  the  result 
of  the  last  presidential  election  (1876),  has  drawn  attention 
to  the  subject,  more  earnestly  than  ever  before,  of  provid- 
ing better  safeguards  to  secure  absolute  fairness  at  the  polls. 
Every  vote  cast  fraudulently  is  a crime  against  society;  and 
every  false  return  is  equally  criminal,  and  may  even  endan- 
ger the  foundations  of  the  government.  It  becomes  us  all, 
therefore,  in  view  of  the  experiences  of  the  past  and  the 
forebodings  of  the  future,  to  remit  no  effort  to  secure  and 
maintain  the  integrity  of  the  ballot.  Restrictive  laws  have 
been  passed,  with  heavy  penalties  for  their  violation,  but  in 
many  cases  they  have  failed  to  suppress  frauds,  as  they 
often  fail  in  suppressing  other  crimes  ; and  hence  the  need 
becomes  apparent  for  some  more  direct  and  positive  means 
to  accomplish  the  desired  result.  This,  we  believe,  is  now 
available  in  the  use  of  mechanism.  Anything  that  is  done  by 
machinery,  that  is  perfect  in  its  adaptation  of  means  to  ends, 
is  far  better  and  more  uniformly  done  than  individuals  can 
do  it.  A mechanical  ballot-box  cannot  tell  a lie,  nor  vote 
double,  nor  steal  ballots,  nor  miscount.  It  cannot  under- 
stand the  significance  of  a bribe  or  of  a wager ; and  it  is 
not  susceptible  to  any  of  the  influences  that  prompt  bad 
men  to  cheat  at  the  polls.  We  have  examined  a ballot-box, 
with  great  satisfaction,  the  invention  of  one  of  our  citizens, 
which  seems  to  fulfill  all  the  conditions  requisite  for  making 
fraudulent  voting  and  counting  impossible.  No  printed  de- 
scription that  we  could  give  would  adequately  describe  its 
merits,  but  wherever  seen  it  cannot  fail  to  be  appreciated 
as  a simple,  efficient,  and  scientific  mechanical  contrivance, 
which  will  prevent  hereafter,  if  generally  adopted,  all  the 
costly  and  dangerous  controversies  which  so  often  have 


38 


GENERAL  COMMENDATIONS. 


arisen  in  regard  to  the  results  of  a vote  by  ballot,  or  the  re- 
turns of  ward  officers,  inspectors,  and  returning  boards.’’  — 
Herald^  Boston. 

The  following  are  quotations  from  letters  written  by  Will- 
iam Lloyd  Garrison,  a short  time  before  his  decease : 

Hon.  Thos.  Kussell  : 

‘‘  My  dear  Friend^  — I need  not  say  to  you  that  among 
the  perils  which  threaten  the  overthrow  of  our  free  institu- 
tions is  the  increasing  tendency  to  fraudulent  voting  and 
the  making  of  false  returns ; whereby  the  actual  expression 
of  the  popular  will  is  set  at  naught,  and  corruption  and 
usurpation  are  enabled  to  seize  the  reins  of  government. 
How  to  remedy  this  is  a question  of  the  first  magnitude. 
Clearly,  if  elections  are  to  be  conducted  as  they  have  been, 
without  any  reliable  safeguards,  the  result  will  be  from  bad 
to  worse,  — involving  the  most  sacred  rights  and  the  dear- 
est interests  of  the  people.  This  is  a matter  that  overleaps 
all  party  divisions,  and  directly  concerns  the  safety  of  the 
country ; and  to  be  hostile  or  indifferent  to  its  grave  consid- 
erations is  to  become  accessory  to  crime. 

“ What  is  imperatively  needed  is  a method  by  which 
every  ballot,  honestly  cast,  shall  be  honestly  counted  ; and 
every  fraudulent  ballot,  and  every  false  return,  shall  be 
quickly  and  surely  detected.  This,  on  a close  examination, 
I am  confident  has  been  devised  by  Mr.  Bacon  ....  in 
so  contriving  a ballot-box  as  to  defy  every  attempt  at  stuff- 
ing or  miscounting  the  votes  actually  thrown,  and  so  put- 
ting an  end  to  all  contested  elections,  on  the  ground  of 
frauds  having  been  perpetrated,  and  insuring  the  purity  of 
elections. 

“ If  this  ballot-box  is  what  its  ingenious  inventor  claims 
for  it,  it  is  of  priceless  value ; and  of  the  many  acute  per- 
sons who  have  given  it  a close  inspection,  no  one  has  yet 
been  able  to  point  out  wherein  it  is  defective  as  against  the 
devices  of  political  tricksters;  and  its  speedy  adoption  by 


GENERAL  COMMENDATIONS. 


39 


every  State  is  something  to  be  hoped  for  and  strenuously 
ui-ged Truly,  ‘ the  price  of  liberty  is  eternal  vigi- 

lance ; ’ and  if  its  glorious  cause  can  be  protected  and  ad- 
vanced by  ingenious  mechanism  and  the  inventive  faculty, 
let  us  rejoice,  and  place  the  inventor  high  on  the  list  of 
public  benefactors. 

William  Lloyd  Garrison.” 

“ Hon.  John  M.  Forbes  : 

Dear  Sir,  — Assured  of  your  patriotic  concern  for  the 
stability  of  our  free  institutions,  ....  I take  the  liberty 
of  introducing  to  you  the  bearer,  Mr.  S.  T.  Bacon,  who,  for 
the  past  two  years,  has  been  anxiously  pondering  the  ques- 
tion : — By  what  method  or  device,  at  once  simple  and  effect- 
ive, can  there  be  a stop  put  to  frauds  in  voting  and  counting 
ballots  ? . . . . He  has  at  last  contrived,  with  admirable 
mechanical  ingenuity,  a ballot-box,  whereby  all  stuffing  will 
be  certainly  frustrated,  and  an  honest  count  legitimately  se- 
cured. Of  course,  it  will  not  be  acceptable  to  unscrupulous 
and  dishonest  partisans,  who  wish  every  safeguard  broken 
down  ; but  this  will  all  the  more’  evince  its  value  and  im- 
portance, which  are  too  great  to  be  easily  computed,  in  view 
of  the  increasing  corruption  and  profligacy  attending  elec- 
tions. 

William  Lloyd  Garrison.” 

My  dear  Mr.  Endicott  : 

....  ‘Mt  is  a mechanical  achievement  of  the  highest 
order,  and  of  the  greatest  importance  in  securing  a true  ex- 
pression of  the  will  of  the  people  in  all  municipal,  state,  and 
national  elections.  It  is  the  product,  moreover,  of  an  earnest, 
patriotic  solicitude  for  the  stability  of  our  republican  insti- 
tutions, which  are  becoming  more  and  more  endangered  by 
fraudulent  ballots  and  false  returns,  ....  presenting  a 
most  alarming  crisis  in  the  history  of  our  country,  which 
this  invention  is  admirably  adapted  to  meet  in  the  most  ef- 


40 


GENERAL  COMMENDS 


3 0112  098216903 

AllONS. 


fective  manner.  Its  adoption  cannot  fail  to  give  satisfaction 
to  all  honest  and  upright  voters,  irrespective  of  party  divi- 
sions. 

William  Lloyd  Garrison.” 


Mr.  S.  T.  Bacon  : 

Mi/  dear  Sir,  — A careful  scrutiny  of  your  ballot-box 
has  strongly  impressed  me  with  a sense  of  its  exceeding 
value  and  importance  in  preventing  all  fraudulent  voting 

and  all  false  returns For  its  ingenious  contrivance 

you  deserve  great  credit,  and  still  more  for  the  patriotic 
motive  which  has  led  you  to  the  expenditure  of  so  much 
time,  labor,  and  money  in  perfecting  it.  It  should  be  the 
standard  ballot-box  in  every  State,  for  it  seems  guarded  at 
every  point,  rendering  abortive  every  device  of  political 
knavery  to  thwart  its  purpose.  I trust  you  will  find  gen- 
tlemen of  infiuence  and  means,  of  all  political  parties,  dis- 
posed to  do  what  they  can  to  procure  its  universal  adoption. 

William  Lloyd  Garrison.” 

Finally,  fellow-citizens  and  legislators,  election  frauds 
appearing  to  have  been  committed,  their  indictment  pre- 
sented, the  witnesses  to  them,  and  the  remedy,  having 
testified,  — in  the  interest  of  lawful  results  at  elections  and 
all  that  is  implied  thereby,  what  shall  your  verdict  and 
remedy  be  ? 

STEUBEN  T.  BACON, 

125  West  Concord  Street,  Boston,  Mass. 


